Scavenger Hunt: Finding the right information online

Feb. 21, 2008 In-class assignment

For today, we read Chapter 4 in Writing and Reporting News by Carole Rich. This chapter, “Sources and Online Research,” discusses the importance of cultivating human sources and conducting quality online research in order to write credible, accurate news stories.

Now you’ll conduct some online research of your own. For this in-class scavenger hunt, you will use online resources to find information.

But first a caveat: Be sure to use credible online sources. Government or educational sites or those affiliated with a nationally credible organization are most reliable, advises our text. Such sites end in .gov, .edu or .org.

For a checklist to help you conduct effective online searches and determine credibility of Web sites, see the “Multimedia Coach” box on page 75 of our text.

Now for the hunt. Work with your team to be the first group to find the following:

1. Obituary of Dr. Seuss
2. Summit County real estate property record for State Senator Thomas Sawyer
3. Akron census data:
   • Percentage of 2000 population under the age of 65
   • Percentage of population change from 1990 to 2000
   • Percentage of black population in 2000
   • Percentage of population with four-year college degree
4. Ohio’s version of the federal Freedom of Information Act
5. Expert source on pay equity for women
6. Contact information for Ohio’s senators
7. A list of high-growth career fields
8. Facts about your favorite spot on the University of Akron campus

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